LETTER

Rising Ottawa River water levels

 

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee cautions that level and flows on the Ottawa River are expected to significantly increase due to warming temperatures and rainfall.  

The combination of heavy rainfall and snow melt may result in significant increases in water levels and flows in the Ottawa River and its tributaries. Officials of the Committee inform residents in low-lying areas along the shores of the Ottawa River, of the possibility of minor flooding within the next few days, depending on the amount of precipitation received.

While the major storage reservoirs in the watershed are containing the majority of the increased runoff from the north, there is limited capability to deal with the contribution from the central and southern portion of the drainage basin as it is unregulated.  During this critical period, the Committee will continuously monitor conditions at all points along the river.

Current information on the Ottawa River levels and flow discharged at the major reservoirs in the system may be obtained at our website, www.ottawariver.ca.  A general three-day forecast is also provided at key locations within the basin.

Residents in Ottawa-Gatineau can obtain current information on Ottawa River levels by calling (613) 995-3443 for a message in English and (613) 995-3455 for a message in French. Persons outside the Ottawa-Gatineau region should dial 1-800-778-1246 to receive an English message and 1-800-778-1243 for a message in French. Information is given for levels at Lake Timiskaming, Mattawa, Pembroke, Lake Coulonge, Chats Lake, Ottawa (Britannia), Gatineau (Hull wharf), Grenville and Maniwaki.  

The Ottawa River Regulating Committee consists of the following agencies that operate dams in the Ottawa River system:  Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Hydro-Québec and the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques du Québec.  

Manon Lalonde and Michael Sarich
The Ottawa River Regulation Secretariat
Ottawa / Gatineau